Stocks end nearly flat

Dhaka stocks ended the week virtually unchanged with investors wandering from one sector to another looking for profit.

The market witnessed a cyclical profit-taking trend, analysts said, adding that the investors, especially the individuals, were randomly switching sides -- sometimes influenced by rumours -- to make profits.

“A short-term profit-taking trend appeared in the market. The investors want to book whatever the profit is after four or five days of trade,” said Arif Khan, general manager of IDLC Finance, yesterday.

The benchmark index of Dhaka Stock Exchange, DSE General Index (DGEN), fell 3.92 or 0.14 percent, to 2,649.49 points. The DSE All Share Price Index however rose 2.1 points, or 0.09 percent, to 2,196.96 points.

A total of 2,93,97,643 shares worth Tk 297.58 crore changed hands on the DSE. Of the 263 traded securities on the DSE, 159 advanced, 97 declined and seven remained unchanged.

Beximco Pharma topped the turnover leaders on the DSE with 20,93,100 traded shares worth Tk 36.55 crore. The other turnover leaders were Shinepukur Ceramics, Beximco, Aftab Automobiles, Summit Power, Lafarge Surma Cement, Titas Gas, LankaBangla Finance, AIMS 1st Mutual Fund and Grameen Mutual Fund One: Scheme Two.

Chittagong stocks recorded a slight fell yesterday. The CSE Selective Categories Index declined 21.42 points, or 0.4 percent, to 5,282.19 points. The CSE All Share Price Index also fell 11.3 points, or 0.13 percent, to 8,157.31 points.

A total of 63,91,118 shares worth Tk 49.38 crore changed hands on the Chittagong Stock Exchange. Of the 159 traded scrips on the port city bourse, 81 advanced, 74 declined and four remain unchanged.

Beximco Pharma topped the turnover leaders on the CSE with 3,85,650 traded shares worth Tk 6.73 crore. The other turnover leaders were Beximco, AIMS 1st Mutual Fund, Shinepukur Ceramics, Grameen Mutual Fund One: Scheme Two, AB Bank, Bextex, BSRM Steels, LankaBangla Finance and Union Capital.